Jimi Hendrix/Eric Clapton/Duane Allman: How grief provided inspiration for "Mean Old World"

On September 30, 1970, a puzzling announcement appeared in the Macon Telegraph.

Duane Allman will play at funeral jam for Hendrix

Macon Telegraph, September 30, 1970.

It didn’t happen.

But it did result in a gorgeous acoustic take on Little Walter’s version of “Mean Old World” with Duane and Eric that appeared on Duane Allman: An Anthology “Mean Old World.”

The story is in the video.

Lagniappes

T-Bone Walker recorded multiple versions of “Mean Old World.” His 1942 take is groundbreaking as the earliest blues electric guitar recording. It sounds vastly different than this 1959 take on Atlantic, which sounds closer to Duane & Clapton’s take.

I didn’t capture Luther Dickinson telling the story about his dad recording “Mean Old World,” but I did get some snippets of Derek Trucks sitting in with the North Mississippi Allstars.

Here’s one I’ve just uploaded.

Thanks for being here y’all.

And thanks for your paid subscription that affords me the headspace to share this with the world. (Yes, Conversation from the Crossroads is an international publication!)